Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Flagstaff Open Space Commission renames Observatory Mesa Natural Area to Observatory Mesa Natural Preserve
Summary
The commission voted to rename Observatory Mesa Natural Area to Observatory Mesa Natural Preserve, citing consistency with conservation easements and public perception of protection; implementation steps (signage, documents) will be phased with master-plan updates.
The Flagstaff Open Space Commission on a voice vote approved renaming Observatory Mesa Natural Area to Observatory Mesa Natural Preserve after commissioners said the word "preserve" better reflects existing conservation easements and public expectations about protection.
Commission Chair (Speaker 3) opened the discussion, noting input from the Indigenous Commission that emphasized keeping the familiar base name "Observatory Mesa" and requested consultation on future trail naming and signage. Staff (Speaker 6) summarized name options the commission had previously considered, including "Observatory Mesa Natural And Cultural Preserve" and versions that included "City of Flagstaff." Several commissioners favored the shorter "Observatory Mesa Natural Preserve" as consistent with Picture Canyon, which is already titled Picture Canyon Natural And Cultural Preserve.
"The conservation easement uses the word preserve," Commissioner (Speaker 4) said, arguing that the word better communicates the area's conservation status and helps align public expectations. Other commissioners raised concerns about adding "City of Flagstaff" to the title as unnecessarily long and noted that signage and documents could be updated incrementally.
Speaker 4 moved that the commission rename the site "Observatory Mesa Natural Preserve." The chair called the question and commissioners answered in the affirmative with no recorded opposition on the audio record; staff said implementation (website, marketing and trail signage) would be coordinated and phased with upcoming master-plan work to reduce immediate costs.
The commission did not record a roll-call vote in the minutes included in the transcript; the decision was made by voice vote at the meeting. Next steps discussed included drafting a recommendation for the Open Space Section, coordinating with marketing and procurement for signage updates, and consulting the Indigenous Commission on trail names and interpretive signage.
The commission's decision is administrative for naming and will require staff follow-up on signage, document edits and communications; no change to land management authority or conservation easement terms was described in the transcript.
